Naperville Park District Rain Barrel Sale Underway

Submitted by the Naperville Park District

Following a successful sale of rain barrels in 2011, the Naperville Park District and The Conservation Foundation are collaborating again this year to offer rain barrels for sale at a discounted price through April 11.

Rain barrels are simply large containers that capture rainwater at the end of a downspout and store the water for later use, for example in watering plants or washing cars. Using water from rain barrels lowers water bills, helps reduce flooding, and can have a dramatic impact on water quality in our rivers and streams.

“We are happy to work with the Park District again this year to make rain barrels available to homeowners and businesses in our community,” said Brook McDonald, President and C.E.O. of The Conservation Foundation. “We join with the Park District in encouraging the community to get involved in protecting our environment,” he added.

In 2011, 248 rain barrels were sold through this special offer. “We estimate that these rain barrels will divert 13,640 gallons of storm water from the storm sewers for each average rainfall,” said Park District Project Manager Peggy Pelkonen.

In response to requests from the community, the Naperville Park District and The Conservation Foundation are offering two free, identical training sessions demonstrating how to install and use a rain barrel. The first session takes place from 7 to 8 p.m. on April 11 and the second session is from 8 to 9 a.m. on April 21. Both sessions will be held at Seager Park, located at 1163 Plank Road in Naperville. Attendees are asked to register in advance through the Naperville Park District at www.napervilleparks.org or by calling 630-848-5000.

The 55-gallon rain barrels will be sold for $70 each and may be purchased online at www.napervilleparks.org, by phone at 630-848-5000 or in person at the Park District Administration Building at 320 W. Jackson Ave.   Orders will be taken through April 11.

The barrels will be available for pick up at the Naperville Park District South Maintenance Facility at 3415 Book Road on Saturday, April 14 from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m.

The rain barrels are made from reused plastic and come equipped with a spigot, a screw off lid, a garden hose threaded overflow, and screen in the top to help keep out bugs and debris. For more information about the benefits of rain barrels visit www.theconservationfoundation.org. Over the past five years, The Conservation Foundation has sold more than 7,000 rain barrels.

For more information about the Naperville Park District and its facilities and programs, please visit www.napervilleparks.org.